EADS claims “attractive” offsets offer for Indian MMRCA contract

A comprehensive Offset offer was submitted on Monday to the Indian Authorities by EADS, acting on behalf of the entire Eurofighter Typhoon community. "Our document provides the Indian Authorities with a fully-fledged response to the Eurofighter Offset requirements and spells out inherent and unrivalled benefits for India", stated Bernhard Gerwert, CEO of Military Air Systems, an integrated business unit of EADS Defence & Security, on this occasion. Gerwert said: "We are now looking forward to further detailing our offer with the Indian governmental bodies as well as the Indian industry representatives and are prepared for all subsequent discussions." Gerwert continued: "Earlier this year we invited India to become a member of the successful Eurofighter family. Today I want to repeat this message: India is our partner of choice and we are interested in long-lasting and mutually beneficial political, industrial and military relations, which are based on our dedication for equal, fair and true partnership". Four nations, four air forces and the four leading European aerospace companies EADS, EADS Casa, BAE Systems and Alenia Finmeccanica have joined forces to fully support all military, technological and industrial aspects of the Eurofighter campaign in India. The Eurofighter Typhoon is fully operational in five European air forces, i.e., the Royal Air Force, the Luftwaffe, and the air forces of Italy, Spain, and Austria. With more than 700 orders from six customers (Germany, United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, Austria, Saudi Arabia), the Eurofighter Typhoon is a mature and stable combat aircraft programme. The most impressive key feature of the Eurofighter Typhoon is its multi- and swing-role capability, which provides military leaders with enormous operational flexibility. This means that the aircraft can fly either air-to-air or air-to-ground missions or both sorties at the same time. In terms of weapons payload, the aircraft is capable of carrying a mix of six short-range and beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles plus additional air-to-surface weapons such as Paveway II or GBU-10/-16, an internal 27mm cannon, or external fuel tanks, a Laser target designator pod or other stores on seven further hard points. Another operational benefit is the installation of the electronic warfare equipment in the wing tips without sacrificing external stores capacity.